Don Hoch Director STATE OF WASHINGTON WASHINGTON STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 1111 Israel Road S.W P.O Box 42650 NEWS Olympia, WA 98504-2650 (360) 902-8500 Media contact: Virginia Painter, (360) 902-8562 Daniel Farber, (360) 902-8504 Wash Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388 12-042 How should the park system change? State Parks asks public to weigh in OLYMPIA – May, 11, 2012 – Should the State Parks system operate more like an enterprise-based hospitality industry, a public conservation asset based mostly on grant and tax funding – or perhaps a system of parks freely standing as community non-profit entities? What people love about their park system, and what improvements need to be made? These and other questions will be considered and discussed as part of a broad public outreach effort by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission staff Ideas are being sought through e-mail and in meetings with legislators, stakeholders and in public meetings scheduled around the state in May and June Information gathered will be used to create a transformation strategy that will guide the park system through the next five years and beyond The strategic transformation plan is to be used as a successor plan to the State Parks Centennial 2013 Plan, which provided guidance for parks improvements during the past 10 years At the public meetings, parks staff will present the "state of state parks" and ask for ideas and comments about three “thematic alternative” visions for the future Each of the “themes" will be explored by using a local park as an example Participants at each meeting will have an opportunity to discuss the themes and share their ideas Attendance is free, and a Discover Pass is not required to attend meetings held at a state park As the process moves forward, public comments, questions and suggestions received about the future of Washington State Parks will be made available online at www.parks.wa.gov/Beyond2013/ Public meeting locations, dates and times are as follows: Tri Cities: to 8:30 p.m May 17 Columbia Basin College 2600 N 20th Ave Building A, room A126 Pasco, WA 99301 Spokane: 3:30 to p.m May 19 (focus on Riverside State Park) and – 7:30 p.m May 21 (focus on Mount Spokane State Park) Spokane Public Library Shadle Branch W 2111 Wellesley Ave Spokane, WA 99205 Central and East Wenatchee: to 8:30 p.m May 22 Washington State Parks Eastern Region Headquarters 270 Ninth Street N.E Ice Age Conference Room East Wenatchee, WA 98802 Friday Harbor: 2:15 to 3:45 p.m June Whidbey Island Bank - Community Room 535 Market Street Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Olympia: to 8:30 p.m June Tumwater High School 700 Israel Road S.W Olympia, WA 98501 Seattle area: to 8:30 p.m June King County Department of Development and Environmental Services 900 Oakesdale Ave S.W Renton, WA 98057 Orcas Island: – p.m June Eastsound Fire Hall 45 Lavender Lane Eastsound, WA 98245 Fort Worden State Park: 6:30 to p.m June 11 200 Battery Way Company A Port Townsend, WA 98368 Burlington: 6:30 to p.m June 12 Burlington Library Burlington Rotary Community Meeting Room 820 E Washington Ave Burlington, WA 98233 Chinook: 6:30 to p.m June 14 Fort Columbia State Park Theater 475 Highway 101 Chinook, WA 98638 Individuals, groups and organizations wishing to join an e-mail list for updates on the planning process are invited to use the following contact information: E-mail: Strategic.Planning@parks.wa.gov Phone: (360) 902-8504 and ask for Strategic Planning Mail: Washington State Parks, Strategic Planning, P.O Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650 Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks, www.twitter.com/WaStatePks_NEWS and www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation The 99-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013 For more information on Centennial 2013, visit www.parks.wa.gov/Centennial2013 Support state parks by purchasing your Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov -30- ... Washington State Parks, Strategic Planning, P.O Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650 Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks,... list for updates on the planning process are invited to use the following contact information: E-mail: Strategic.Planning @parks. wa.gov Phone: (360) 902-8504 and ask for Strategic Planning... and winter recreation The 99-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013 For more information on Centennial 2013, visit www .parks. wa.gov/Centennial2013 Support state parks